Dead ball runners advance

[Russ Hoffman]

Batter hits a long fly ball in foul territory. The left fielder makes the catch in foul territory. As the catch is made the runners on first and second base tag up to advance. The left fielder, after making the catch in foul territory, takes 5-8 steps and goes over the line and out of play.
How many bases should the runners advance? Both runners were more than half way to the next base.
Umpire on the field ruled one base. However, by taking the extra steps to go out of play he likely prevented the runners from taking more than one base.

 

[EdLovrich]

Judgement call as to whether or not momentum carried the fielder out of play. If it was momentum, then 1 base from time the ball became dead. If she had the chance to stop and just kept running then it is a 2-base award from where the runners were when the ball became dead. "Halfway to the next base" never has any bearing on base awards, it is from last base legally occupied. Some awards are from time of pitch, some from time of throw, other at time ball became dead.